Luther writes what he said on behalf of the duke about the future employment of M. Christoph Jonas at the high school in Königsberg, and what he answered. About Melanchthon's journey to Cologne and about the Imperial Diet in Nuremberg.
From Faber's collection of letters, p. 49, in De Wette, vol. V, p. 357 and in the Erlangen edition, vol. 56, p. 60.
S. and F. Serene, highborn prince, gracious lord! I have spoken with M. Christophoro, as E. F. G. wrote to me; he gives me this answer: M. Philipps has advised him to move to the French countryside. Now M. Philipps is not native now, but with the bishop at Köllen to plant the Evangelion. For the two bishops of Köllen and Münster have (praise God) seriously accepted the Gospel, no matter how hard the Thumherreu oppose it. This is also the case in your duchy of Brunswick. There will not be much evil and little piety here, as they say: The nearer Rome, the worse Christians, and Jerusalem, the holy city, must always do the most evil, as the prophets say. However, M. Christophorus has offered to serve his fatherland with all his will after his return; he believes that the school is well enough staffed with other masters at this time.
I don't know much about the new newspaper. The Diet at Nuremberg has disintegrated without mercy
and unity; King Ferdinand is angry. We have never been angrier and more furious than we are now, and we want to let the Turks march on us. In the Low Countries, there should be a decency between the Burgundians and the Dukes of Jülich. I have ordered M. Christoffel's father, E. F. G., to report what misfortune a French gentleman, called Gus, has caused at Metz; it is too much for me to write to the lazy and weak. Hiemit dem lieben GOtte befohlen, Amen. Monday after Ascensionis [May 7] 1543.
E. F. G.
willingR
Martinus LutheR, D.
To Justus Menius, pastor in Eisenach.
Georg von Harstall from Creuzburg (see No. 2990) had been with Luther and had offered to sign a contract with the pastor Georg Spenlein if he would stop attacking people. Now Luther asks Menius to investigate how this accusation against the pastor stands. About the request of another preacher for an allowance.
Handwritten at Wolfenbüttel in Cod. Gud. From the Schmid collection at Helmstädt in Schütze, Vol. III, p. 209 and in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 558.
To the highly placed man, Mr. Justus Menius, the extremely vigilant pastor of the church in Eisenach.
The captain of Creuzburg, Georg von Harstall, has been here, my dear Justus, and has talked to me and complained heavily that he is 2) troubled in his conscience by my letter, but he puts the blame on the pastor Georg. 3) He is ready to suffer and do anything, if only the pastor would keep his tongue from 4) attacking people;
1) On Easter Day 1543, in a monastery near Metz, which belonged to Count Wilhelm von Fürstenberg, about two hundred citizens gathered with their wives to partake of the sacrament under both forms. When Gus (gubennator Scampaniae) heard of this, he attacked them with a band of horsemen, had the women stripped and defiled in view of their husbands. (Seidemann in De Wette, vol. VI, p. 571, note 4.)
2) Instead of constantia we have assumed conscientia.
3) Spenlein.
4) Instead of ac, we assumed ad.
Letters from the year 1543. no. 3014. 3015. 3016.
that vices are punished, he praised. Because this question about persons and vices is ambiguous, I did not want to promise him anything else than that I would write to you, to whom these churches were commanded. Therefore, I ask you to investigate according to your office whether the whole people of Creuzburg is upset against the priest, or whether the priest is excessive in attacking the people, and to defeat or end the matter according to your wisdom. I, who am absent, cannot judge anything about it.
Your Martin Luther.
No. 3015.
Hans Jörg, Count of Mansfeld, to Luther.
The count asks Luthern to kindly instruct his old servant Johann Ullen, who had been imprisoned in the Pabstthum until then, if he should come to him.
The original is in the von Wallenrodt Library at Königsberg. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 426.
1) Instead of vel, we assumed ut.
Peace and grace from our dear Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. My dear Doctor! I cannot tell you in a gracious and good opinion that we have a servant, called Johann Ullen, who has been the servant of my cousin, Count Hoyern, of blessed memory, for a long time, who has faithfully served my cousins and my brothers up to this time. And after he has lain in the babestery (babestery) and the same aberration (? ververgung) his day until here, because the almighty God has given him the grace that he comes to the realization that he has done wrong, so he has in the will to go to you, and, as it seems to me, to address you for that reason. So my request to you is that you, as the true servant of God, when he comes to you, 2) report him with patience, as you, praise God, know how to keep yourselves well. For he is an old man, as you will see, and for my sake, when he would (word) to you, I want to prove to him promotion and will, and take the reward from God. And [I] hereby command you to the Almighty God in His divine mercy, and am willing to serve you. Date Mansfelt. My hand. Wednesday after Exaudi [May 9] 1543.
Hans Jörg, Count of Mansfeld.
No. 3016.